NEW YORK : Frances Tiafoe weathered a Ben Shelton storm in a captivating all-American blockbuster to win 4-6 7-5 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 and move into the last-16 of the U.S. Open on Friday.
Both players have had semi-final runs at Flushing Meadows in the past and it was the electric Tiafoe who prevailed in a four-hour battle in what was a repeat of last year’s quarter-final match-up, where the younger Shelton had won in four sets.
The two players are good pals off the court but set their friendship aside and after Shelton promised a ‘war’, the clash lived up to its billing, bringing the crowd to its feet on several points and rallies as the match went the distance.
Shelton, who held a 2-0 head-to-head record going into the contest, fired 23 aces and 63 winners but ultimately Tiafoe exacted revenge and earned a fourth-round clash with either defending champion Novak Djokovic or Alexei Popyrin.
